Three members of the Peace and Freedom Party announced this week that they are mounting campaigns for statewide office in California’s 2026 general election, running for governor, superintendent of public instruction, and insurance commissioner.
In separate campaign launches timed to coincide with the Juneteenth holiday, Ramsey Robinson, Frank Lara, and Eduardo “Lalo” Vargas all declared their respective candidacies for statewide office. Robinson is running in the state’s gubernatorial election, while Lara is seeking the position of superintendent of public instruction, and Vargas is running for state insurance commissioner.
According to his campaign biography, Robinson is a mental health social worker and socialist organizer involved with several labor and community-action groups, including local chapters of the Democratic Socialists of America and the California Poor People’s Campaign. He also said he helped organize the 2024 National Shut ‘Em Down Campaigns, which organized coordinated demonstrations across the country opposing mass incarceration and racialized state violence.
Lara is a public middle school teacher and immigration advocate. He serves as a vice president of the United Educators of San Francisco and sits on the California Teachers Association’s Financing Public Education Committee. Lara adds that he was also involved in the campaign for California’s Proposition 58, which overturned restrictions on bilingual education.
Vargas, a former firefighter who is also a public school teacher, has worked in emergency medical services and is active in union-based and community-centered outreach efforts. He describes himself as a lifelong Californian from a working-class family and a member of United Teachers Los Angeles.
While running as Peace and Freedom Party candidates, all three are also members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Lara and Vargas have also previously run for office in the state.
Editorial note: With thanks to reader Joshua Fauver for announcement details.
Unless the lawsuit to get rid of Top Two Primary wins, all three of these candidates will barely be a blip on the radar screen in the primary and not make it to the general election ballot.
RAMSEY ROBINSON is running for Governor to create a California that’s built for the people and NOT the Billionaires!!
Platform:
1. A government for the people, not the wealthy
2. Housing is a human right: Homes for people, not for profit
3. Healthcare for everyone, covering everything: Medi-cal for ALL
4. Excellent public schools: Free quality education for ALL
5. Full rights for immigrants: no deportations
6. Save our planet from capitalism
7. Guaranteed union jobs and living wages for ALL
8. End the WAR on Black America
9. Defend women’s rights, full equality for LGBTQ people
10. Divest from Israel: FREE CALIFORNIA FROM COMPLICITY
Website: https://www.ramsey4gov.com/